The 2025 season is here and so are the weekly SSBR awards. Last year we began bringing attention to individual performances turned in by those on small college (NCAA D2, NAIA, NCCAA) teams and junior colleges.

Each week we send out nomination forms to the head coaches of each team in the various divisions above. We ask them to nominate only 1 position player and 1 pitcher with their stats for the week and any context they feel would help their player. We look at those nominations and choose the player or pitcher in each category that we feel had the best week. Also, each player or pitcher nominated will get recognized even if they don’t win.

This week was a little different as the weather caused havoc on the schedule. Teams played less games or no games at all so the sample sizes were smaller. Also, several weekend series weren’t completed until Monday, so we pushed back the award a day as well.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the winners for Week 13.

*With more conferences moving into the postseason, this will be the last of our College Weekly Awards for the 2025 season.

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Small College

Player of the Week

Taiga Sakuma, MACU Evangels

MACU moved into the postseason this past week with a best of 3 series in the SAC Championship vs the #7 seed Nelson. The Evangels didn’t need to go to a 3rd game due in large part to Sakuma’s day at the plate. Sakuma was outstanding for the Evangels in their 2 games as he provided a little bit of everything for MACU – average, power, and speed.

Not only did he provide the offense throughout the 2 games, Sakuma came in clutch for MACU as he hit the walk off base hit in extra innings in game 2 to seal the series.

Sakuma’s line: G 2, .700/.727/1.100, HR, 2 RBI, 2B, BB, 2 SB

Other nominees:
– Gunnar Hansen, USAO

Pitcher of the Week

Brian Ereu, USAO Drovers

USAO played in the the opening round of the SAC Tournament this past week as well and they didn’t need to go to a 3rd game either. Ereu started game 1 vs College of the Ozarks for the Drovers and he was simply outstanding as he has been the whole season.

Ereu’s line: G 1/GS 1, 1-0, CG, 9 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K

Other nominees:
– Elian Cuevas, Southwestern Christian

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Junior College

Player of the Week

Dominic Ornelas, Carl Albert State Vikings

Carl Albert State had a big week last week. The Vikings needed a series win vs NOC Enid to stay alive for a spot in the Region 2 Tournament. Dominic Ornelas of Sand Springs did everything he could to make sure the Vikes got the 3-1 series win over Enid and a Monday win vs Connor State.

Christian’s line: G 5, .421/.522/.895, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 3 2B, 4 BB, 5 R

Other nominees:
– Blade Carver, NOC Tonkawa

Pitcher of the Week

Madden Dillard, Carl Albert State

In the first game of the NOC Enid series, Dillard go the ball. His job was to give the Vikings a chance to win the game vs a stout Jets’ offense. He did just that and more. In his first start of the season, Dillard went 8 IP, giving up just 2 hits, only 1 unearned run with 8 Ks vs 3 BBs.

Thompson’s line: G 2/GS 2, 1-0, 10.1 IP, 3 H, R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 9 K

Other nominees:
– Liam McKinney, NOC Tonkawa

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